TIRUPATI: “Life sprouts in space!"
With these words, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) announced a milestone in its journey by germinating cowpea seeds in space, a successful experiment in extraterrestrial agriculture.
The seeds are being grown as part of an experiment called Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS), designed to explore the potential of growing plants beyond Earth.
"Leaves expected soon,” Isro said.
The five- to seven-day experiment has been planned to demonstrate seed germination and plant sustenance until reaching the two-leaf stage in space.
The seeds were germinated in the left-over Stage-4 portion of the PSLV-C60 rocket, which launched two satellites into space on December 30. The satellites are expected to dock on Tuesday, marking a new chapter in Isro's growth story.
The CROPS experiment was performed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, and the seeds germinated four days after launch.
The CROPS payload was engineered to simulate and analyse plant growth in space-like conditions. Eight cowpea seeds were housed in a controlled chamber with advanced thermal regulation.
Equipped with sophisticated monitoring tools, the module tracks growth through high-resolution imaging, atmospheric gas analysis, temperature control, humidity measurements, and soil moisture evaluation.
This innovation not only validates the concept of sustainable farming in space but also lays the groundwork for feeding astronauts on long-duration missions and contributing to the development of self-sustaining habitats for potential human settlements on other planets, Isro said.
The experiment was part of the PSLV Orbital Experiment Module (POEM-4), a collaborative initiative that featured 24 payloads from Isro and academic institutions.
In another significant achievement, Isro operated its first
robotic arm in space, advancing India’s space exploration capabilities. The remote robotic arm is part of Isro’s SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment), launched on December 30 from Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
“RRM-TD, India’s first space robotic arm, is in action onboard POEM4! A proud Make In India milestone in space robotics”, Isro announced, sharing a video of the breakthrough on platform X.
The Relocatable Robotic Manipulator-Technology Demonstrator (RRM-TD), also known as the walking robotic arm, is India’s first space robotic arm capable of “walking”.
Developed by Isro’s Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), the arm features seven movable joints, allowing it to relocate like an inchworm to specific targets on the POEM-4. The arm showcases cutting-edge technology, including advanced robotic joints, grappling mechanisms, precise camera-based movement,
obstacle-avoidance software, and a high-performance processor.
Knowledge gained from the experiment will help India’s future Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), where microgravity operations, inspections and remote-controlled tasks can be conducted “digital twin” model.
Meanwhile, the 'chaser' satellite, part of SpaDeX mission, captured a video of Earth from 400 km, featuring azure oceans
and swirling clouds. The footage highlights the satellite’s advanced imaging capabilities and readiness for the mission’s next phase.
